Dracaena plant named ‘Reijdramas’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Dracaena  cultivar named ‘Reijdramas’ is disclosed, characterized by dark green leaves with strong yellow-green center stripes. Plants are large and vigorous, and produce very glossy foliage. The new variety is a  Dracaena , typically produced as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Dracaena fragrans.

Variety denomination: ‘Reijdramas’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is the product of chance discovery. The new varietyoriginated as a naturally occurring, whole plant mutation of theunpatented variety Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’.

The new variety was discovered by the inventor, Pieter Johannes Reijm, acitizen of the Netherlands, in March 2011, in a commercial nursery inNieuwerkerk, the Netherlands. After identifying the new variety as apotentially interesting selection, the inventor continued confidentialtesting and propagation of ‘Reijdramas’, assessing the stability of theunique characteristics of this variety.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Reijdramas’ was firstperformed at the commercial nursery in Nieuwerkerk, the Netherlands byvegetative cuttings in November 2011. Access to all plants wasrestricted, as plants were kept in an area not open to the public.Through subsequent propagation by vegetative cuttings, multiplegenerations have been reproduced, which have shown that the uniquefeatures of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Reijdramas’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Reijdramas’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Reijdramas’ as a new and distinct Dracaenacultivar:

-   -   1. Large, vigorous plant    -   2. Distinctive dark green foliage with yellow-green center        stripes.    -   3. Very glossy foliage.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Reijdramas’ are similar to the parent,Dracaena fragrans ‘Massangeana’ in most horticultural characteristics.Plants of the new variety, however, are overall larger than plants of‘Massangeana’. The new variety produces foliage which grows moreupright, and is both longer and wider than foliage of ‘Massangeana’.Additionally, the distinctive lighter colored striping in the center ofthe leaves of the new variety is wider, and lighter colored than thefoliage striping of the parent variety.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

‘Reijdramas’ can be compared to the commercial variety Dracaena fragrans‘Mass Coast’, U.S. plant patent application Ser. No. 13/573,425. The newvariety, however, produces leaves that are glossier than ‘Mass Coast’.Additionally, plants of the new variety grow faster than plants of ‘MassCoast’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘Reijdramas’ grown in a commercial greenhouse inNieuwerkerk, the Netherlands. This plant is approximately 12 months old,shown planted in a 24 cm container. The photograph was taken usingconventional techniques and although colors may appear different fromactual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible byconventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2001, except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘Reijdramas’ plants grown in a greenhouse inMunster, The Netherlands. A steady temperature of approximately 20° C.at night and 20° C. during the day was maintained. No artificial light,photoperiodic treatments were given to the plants. The plant was shadedif the sun was shining on it. Measurements and numerical valuesrepresent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Dracaena fragrans ‘Reijdramas’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate rooting: About 4 weeks at approximately 20° C. 6    weeks for full rooting.-   Root description: Moderately thick, moderately fibrous, not fleshy,    Yellow-White 158C.

PLANT

-   Age of plant described: 1 year.-   Pot size of plant described: 24 cm pot.-   Growth habit: Upright.-   Height: Approximately 99.7 cm.-   Plant spread: Approximately 106.0 cm.-   Growth rate: Moderate to vigorous, approx. 15 cm per month.-   Branching characteristics: Not free branching, typically growing    with one main stem from the base. Will only develop lateral branches    after pinching or pruning.-   Diameter of stem: Approximately 2.4 cm.-   Internode length: Average 0.5 cm.-   Texture of stem: Smooth, moderately glossy.-   Color of stem: Yellow-green, near RHS 145D and 150D.-   Stem strength: Very strong.-   Number of leaves per stem: Average 34.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate (spirally).        -   Average length.—Approximately 73.1 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 11.2 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Lorate.        -   Aspect.—Leaves in an average angle of 55° to stem            (=0°=vertical); leaf blades curved horizontal. Leaf blades            moderately undulate, slightly twisted.        -   Apex.—Acute with a pungent (not sharp) outer tip.        -   Base.—Broad cuneate.        -   Attachment.—Sheathing.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, glossy.        -   Texture of bottom surface.—Smooth, slightly glossy.-   Color:    -   -   Young foliage upper side.—Green near RHS 143A. Axially            (lengthways) striped yellow-green; near RHS 150C.        -   Young foliage under side.—Green; near RHS 137D. Axially            (lengthways) striped yellow-green; near RHS 145A and 150C.        -   Mature foliage upper side.—Green; near RHS 141A but darker.            Axially (lengthways) striped yellow-green; near RHS N144D.        -   Mature foliage under side.—Green; near RHS 137D, Axially,            (lengthways) striped yellow-green; near RHS N144C.-   Venation:    -   -   Type.—Parallel.        -   Color.—Upperside: Indistinguishable from leaf blade.            Underside: Indistinguishable from leaf blade.-   Sheath:    -   -   Average length.—Approximately 6.0 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 2.4 cm.        -   Color.—Yellow-green; near RHS 144D.        -   Texture.—Smooth, very glossy.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Flower production: Not observed.-   Disease resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to normal    diseases and pests of Dracaena has been observed.-   Drought tolerance and temperature tolerance: Moderately high drought    resistance, good heat resistance to at least 40° C.-   Fruit/seed production: Not observed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dracaena plantnamed ‘Reijdramas’ as herein illustrated and described.